Chronic pain patients facing “excruciating” long waits for treatment

Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today criticised the government for putting chronic pain patients through "excruciating" long waits for treatment, after new statistics showed hundreds of patients waited more than six months to get help.

The ISD Scotland figures show performance against the 18-week target has fallen to 63.8%, while 324 patients waited over 27 weeks from referral to first appointment at a chronic pain clinic.

Commenting, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"For patients battling chronic pain day-in day-out these long waits for treatment must be excruciating.

"Hundreds of people are being made to wait months for help with chronic pain that in many cases is seriously limiting their lives.

"The Health Secretary must do more than just sympathise. She needs to alleviate the pressure on our hardworking NHS professionals by giving them the support and resources they need to get the job done."

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